Dear Friends, 
Happy Solstice! The longest day of the year has arrived with its attendant light and warmth and all things green and growing -- a veritable feast for the senses. I spent the weekend at Maine Fiddle Camp where everything happens outside. There's a big main tent where we gather for concerts and dances. The backdrop for the evening concerts are the tall pines in silhouette against a pink and purple sky. We gather in smaller tents for our lessons. The air is filled with music punctuated by birdsong. And as the stars begin to twinkle, I crawl into my own little tent where I drift off to the sound of music as people jam around the campfire late into the night. It's a magical place -- a magical time that restores my soul.
And... there's so much suffering! Cruelty and hatred have rolled up their sleeves and are hard at work in the world -- in our country. At a time when we need one another more than ever, we're closing our borders and alienating our allies. The most vulnerable among us are suffering the most, leaving more and more of us feeling alone and helpless to do much to stop the madness.
I realize it is a great privilege to be able to choose to spend a weekend on a lake making music in community, connecting with old friends and new, and with our mother, the Earth. I am not a refugee. And, for those to whom much is given, much is expected.
It's important to find places of beauty and community in our lives that restore our souls. But we can't live there. We have to find enough strength to face what's happening in the world... in our country. It will take a lot of strength. To that end I invite you to meditate on these beautiful words written by Alicia Forde:
I lift my eyes up to the hills
from where will my help come?
My help comes from Love abundant.
my help comes from the hills
my help -- my help, it comes from
ancient Mothers whose hearts beat in mine.
It comes from the trees that sway and the breeze that sways them . . .
my help comes from all that was and is and will ever be . . .
I lift my eyes . . . hushed by the soothing touch of waves
caressing wounded shores
wounded souls
I lift my eyes . . . to the horizon bathed by
the hum of mothers and mothers' mothers
cradling -- gently rocking
I lift my voice -- call of the sea trees sister moon mother earth
my soul weeping -- a symphony of life overflowing
I give myself
I too hum through every pore
with every breath
I give myself --
an extension
of all that is, was, and ever will be.
May you find strength in all that connects us with one another and with the Earth this summer -- that we might return to life in this community refreshed and ready to roll up our sleeves in the service of love.
Peace my friends, in all you do,
Rev. Carol
|
|
Summer Services are smaller in scale and less formal than our regular services. They provide a way to keep our connections alive through the summer. More aptly called "significant Sunday sharing," these sessions provide a time to share our joys, concerns, thoughts, and inspirations in a meaningful way. We sit in a circle in the Fireside Room and the week's leader supplies a word, phrase, or theme, which leads to a group discussion that can evolve in any direction. There's no sermon and little ritual, but there is a wonderful feeling of nurturing our spirits by sharing our thoughts and experiences. If you have questions or would like to facilitate a circle, please contact Cathy Goldwater.
|
UUCM
 News & Activities
|
Especially during the summer when there are fewer people in the church,
we are all responsible for securing our building. If you cannot confirm that there are others in the building, you must shut off lights and lock the doors. Thanks!
|
- Interim Minister, Rev. Carol Strecker - Away in July and part of August. See "Emergency Contacts" below if you need emergency assistance.
- Music Director, Carolyn McCreary Attending planning meetings, as needed.
- Custodian, Sue Wahlen (6 hours/week) June 18-August 22 -- Hours will be posted outside office door.
- Office and Religious Education Administrator, Jamie Ferrier
Monday-Friday - 8:30am-2:30pm [email protected] or 673-1870 (ext. 1)
-
Call ahead or check the
website for changes in hours or vacation time.
If you have an emergency during Rev. Carol's absence, you should:
- Contact the Council member on call at that time:
July 1-7 Steve Opre
July 8-14 Marti Kennedy
July 15-21 Candy Shirey
July 22-31 Jeff Hoye
Aug 20-25 Tricia Jalbert
- Or call Jamie in the office at 603-673-1870 and she will contact the on-call Council member, but this might incur a slower response time.
- Or call the Pastoral Care contact.
|
The Ministerial Search Committee has met several times since its retreat on Memorial Day weekend. The Committee will soon be employing two means to solicit input from all members and friends on what they hope to see in our next settled minister.
Survey: A subcommittee is developing a survey that members and friends will be asked to complete online or on paper. The survey responses will help the Search Committee describe the congregation to ministerial candidates, and will also help the Committee know what the congregation seeks in a minister.
Focus Groups: Members and friends will also have the opportunity to participate in one or more focus groups where they will share their views with members of the Search Committee. Focus groups will be scheduled during the summer and early autumn at times to be determined. Watch your email for further information, or contact Cathy Goldwater, Search Committee secretary.
News Flash: One of the first focus groups will meet after the Summer Service on July 8. Stay after church or come from 10:30 to 11:15. Muffins, fruit, coffee, and iced tea will be provided.
|
|
Get out of the kitchen and let the Community Supper team provide supper during the hot summer months. In July, we will be featuring Sausage Subs and in August, Cold Salads will be offered. Come and enjoy the camaraderie and good food at 5:30pm, or contact Nancy Danzinger to offer your help.
|
 In June, 17 of us gathered for the women's potluck. These are a great way to stay connected through the summer. The next potlucks are at 11:45 on
Monday, July 16, August 20, and September 10
Please RSVP to Elise deMichael for the summer potlucks (in case something comes up and the potluck is cancelled). Thanks!
|
|
A question was raised at the Annual Meeting about why the Administrator's salary appeared to be greater than the expected 2% increase. In the Silver budget recommended to Council, the Finance Committee added 2.5 hours to Jamie's base of 30 hours/week. This was in addition to the separate bookkeeper hours (3 hours/week). This would bring the Administrator/Bookkeeper hours up to a total of 35.5 hours/week. A comment clarifying the additional hours was inadvertently omitted in the briefing for the Annual Meeting.
The Finance Committee feels that this increase in hours is warranted so that Jamie can do the work she has been assigned. This is not for additional CYFF work, but to provide Jamie the ability to complete her responsibilities. This is 35.5 hours/week for 52 weeks. In approving the Silver budget, Council also approved the increase in hours for Jamie. Jamie has said she is willing to work the extra time.
|
Everyone is invited to a multi-church picnic on August 18, from 4-7 p.m. in Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua, NH. Park on the street and look for the balloons marking the spot - on the west side of the park near the playground. Bring something to share at the potluck (no nuts please), a chair for comfort and a hydrating beverage.
This will be a picnic for all three local Unitarian Universalist Congregations! Manchester- Nashua - Milford (M-N-M)! We will gather with summer games, shared potluck picnic and building connections within our own UU community and beyond! We will also share with one another about upcoming programs at each congregation as we continue to encourage MNM shared resources and programs!
|
On June 13, we celebrated our Bridging seniors: Zoe Adl-Zarabi and Yakov Schwartzberg. Best wishes as you take the next step on your journey!
|
The Leadership and Member Directories were updated to reflect the new leadership and new members. Now that the newsletter is public on the website and no personal contact info is provided, it is especially important that you make sure all your info is correct in the directories. Look for the directories online at https://uucm.org/members/keep-in-touch/directories/. Let Jamie know if you need to update your email address, phone number, or other information ([email protected] or 603-673-1870).
|
If you are the contact person for any recurring events in the UUCM Calendar, please notify Jamie (603-673-1870 or [email protected]) if there are any changes to your dates over the summer.
|
|
Greater UU Community Events
|
No one will be offended if you come to UUCM's summer services and leave
5 minutes early to catch world class speakers on a variety of topics at the Lyceum. (Selected programs will be rebroadcasted on NHPR the following Saturday at 10pm.)
Live programs begin at 11:00am and run for an hour or slightly longer. A reception follows in the Parish Hall. Presentations are free, but donations are accepted. Parking is available next to the church, courtesy of People's United Bank, and the church is wheelchair accessible. For the full schedule and details about each week's speaker and topic, visit www.monadnocklyceum.org/
Pssst! You might also enjoy the Amos Fortune Forum at the Old Meetinghouse in Jaffrey Center on Fridays at 8:00pm (but get there early!), July 6-August 17. See speakers and topics at http://amosfortune.com/
|
|
Thanks to all who have volunteered this year! Summer volunteers are still urgently needed! Join Megan Hoye and Marti Kennedy from 10:30am-2:30pm to prepare a simple meal at the Nashua Soup Kitchen and clean up afterwards. It's easy -- and there is always someone there to help. The children and adults we serve are truly grateful not only for the meal, but also for the fellowship. Teens age 12 and older are welcome to volunteer if accompanied by an adult. Volunteers often carpool to Nashua and there is plenty of parking at the NSK. You can sign up online or contact Marti Kennedy or Meghan Hoye.
|
Weds., July 18 & August 15 (3rd Wednesdays each month)
In keeping with UUCM's mission to Honor Each, Enrich All, our congregation hosts suppers at UUCM every month. You are invited to join the pool of volunteers who help prepare and serve nutritious meals to the delight of our guests. Please contact Nancy Danzinger, UUCM Community Supper Coordinator, to learn more or join the pool.
|
|
Training Session - July 11 from 12-2pm
The Women in Transition Team (WITT) continues its good work of supporting women recently released from prison, primarily by providing transportation to required visits with parole officers in Nashua, to medical appointments, etc. We also serve other women in our community who may need support to access essential services.
Drivers are asked to 'adopt' just one day a month (i.e. first Monday, third Thursday) when they will be available to drive IF NEEDED. Often there are no requests for drives on that day and so you are free until the following month. Presently we have 21 drivers, 14 of whom are members of UUCM. As we move toward becoming a 'community based' organization, many of our drivers are from other faith communities. At this time there are several days with no one scheduled as a driver and we hope you will thoughtfully consider joining our team.
If you are a new driver, an experienced one, or someone just pondering whether this opportunity would work for you, please attend the training session on July 11. We will share stories from those who have been driving for a while, and will review critical policies and protocols for drivers to best insure safety and comfort both for our clients and our drivers. For more information you are welcome to contact Jeanne Nieuwejaar
|
|
Please leave contributions in the SHARE basket in Barnum Hall. This month's needs: Canned fruit, flour, sugar, boxed mixes & baking supplies, coffee & tea, juice, granola & fruit.
|
|
July: Sandy Springer
August: Linda Higgs
|
Why? Get the latest
Church Directory, Council minutes, services provided by UUCM members & friends,
ways to shop to benefit UUCM, and more.
Contact [email protected] if you need help logging on.
Please observe UUCM's Food Allergen and Alcohol policies on the
UUCM Policies
webpage.
Weekdays before 6pm and Saturdays before 5pm: Park only behind the church or in the circular driveway in front (and NOT in front of the Garden Door). For more parking information (including a printable map),
click
here.
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
